Friday roundup: Annual Conference preview, workforce development, all about AI

Photo: Steffan Industries

The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) Annual Conference is set to return April 21 - 24 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, in the USA, and promises a can’t-miss experience for professionals across the industry. This year the conference will be set against the backdrop of the iconic Arizona Biltmore and will offer excellent networking opportunities, expert-led sessions and a dynamic Exhibit Centre featuring 88 exhibitors.

You may have noticed Tuesday’s CTB looked a bit different. To enhance the service we are already providing, the Briefing on Tuesdays will include the stories from the World Crane Week email newsletter. Some of you already receive this so it will mean you get all the best news, updates and thought-provoking articles together in one mail on that day instead of two.

Wednesday’s Briefing showcased the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation’s inaugural winners of its Workforce Ambassador Program, which launched in April 2023 to increase industry awareness at local and state levels. The initiative aims to engage 150 companies by 2026, encouraging them to foster the next generation of skilled professionals through educational outreach and hands-on learning experiences.

On Thursday, it was all about AI. A new report from Oxford Economics suggests that while AI could bring some benefits to construction, its impact on actual crane operations may be far more limited than many initially expected. The research highlighted that AI is most effective at automating cognitive and administration tasks, meaning roles in project management, scheduling and risk assessment could see improvements. However, for crane operators and other site-based workers, AI’s influence is much less certain.